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New dentist office gives residents something to smile about

Jacob Orozco and his wife, Abbey Sullivan Orozco, owners of the recently opened Top of the Hill Orthodontics and Pediatric Dentistry.

by Sue Ann Rybak

Jacob Orozco and his wife Abbey Sullivan Orozco, owners of the recently opened Top of the Hill Orthodontics and Pediatric Dentistry, 8705 Germantown Ave., say taking your kids to the dentist doesn’t have to be like pulling teeth.

Abbey, 33, a pediatric dentist, said The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) recommends children have their first dentist visit at the age of one. She said one of the reasons for seeing a dentist early is so the child doesn’t associate pain with the dentist.

Abbey, whose father was a general dentist in Scranton, recalled working in her father’s office during the summer.

“At the age of 13, I started working in his office first as a receptionist and then eventually assisting him with patients,” she said. “I was always the one in the back holding the kids’ hand and talking them through it while he did his thing.”

Abbey said her favorite clinic in dental school was pediatrics so her decision to specialize in pediatric dentistry was a natural fit.

Jacob, on the other hand, said he went into dentistry for it’s artistic side.

“Dentistry is an art form,” Jacob said.

“My father was a veterinarian and my mother was a dental hygienist,” he said. “I knew I didn’t want to be a vet. It was just a little messier than I cared for and your patients couldn’t tell you what was wrong. I kind of assumed I would go into a [medical] field – but I didn’t know what. I really liked art and using my hands.”

Both Jacob and Abbey graduated from Temple University’s School of Dentistry in 2009, after completing their individual residencies. Jacob said their specialities meld well-together.

Together they can provide complete pediatric dental and orthodontic care for patients from infancy to young adulthood all under one roof. Jacob said your teeth are meant to last a lifetime – establishing a good dental habits and catching dental problems early can make a difference.

Jacob said orthodontics is great because he gets to connect with patients and see them become transformed.

“It’s great to see a kid or an adult come in, who is maybe a little self-conscious about their smile and watch their confidence grow,” Jacob said. “I really get to know my patients because I see them for a year and a half to two years. They often come in as awkward, shy, little kids, who are later transformed into confident teenagers showing me their prom pictures.”

Jacob said one of the reasons they chose Chestnut Hill as a location was its atmosphere.

“We wanted an area where we could feel part of the community,” Jacob said.

Jacob said they currently both work as associates in offices that are heavily trafficked.

“Where Abby works now in King of Prussia – it’s an industrial park,” Jacob said. “There isn’t anything like this where you can stroll down the street and see friends. We want to be a face in the community.”

Abbey said they fell in love with the area after exploring a few properties in Chestnut Hill.

“It’s just so charming and beautiful,” Abby said. “We realized there was need here after talking to several businesses and general dentists in the area. There are no pediatric dentists or orthodontics in Chestnut Hill.”

Jacob said the site is really accessible to public transportation.

“There are two train stations and we have a bus route that stops by our front door,” Jacob said. “There is free parking in the back – which is a huge issue in this area.”

The Orozcos hope that Top of the Hill Orthodontics and Pediatric Dentistry will become a fixture in the community. They look forward to talking to parents and children at schools and daycares about the importance of developing good oral habits early.

Abbey encouraged parents to bring their kids in early for their initial visit. She said one of the biggest mistakes parents make is putting kids to bed with a bottle.

“They don’t realize how detrimental that is,” Abbey said. “It’s nice to be able to meet families before there is a problem. If kids get accumulated to the sights and sounds of the dentist at a young age – it’s no so scary later on.”

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